SUTUKES. 73 



if it be deep, so that tlie disctiarpfe may escape. Before closing the 

 wound, we should w^ash out, with an antiseptic solution (p. G7), 

 any blood clots that may be in it; for their presence would inter- 

 fere with the process of healing. 



The edges of a superficial wound may be kept in contact by strips 

 of ordinary adhesive plaster; or of cotton cloth covered wdth glue, 

 or saturated with collodion. Shaving the hair round a wound is 

 advisable, as it will help to keep the part clean. 



Sutures (stitches for drawing together the edges of a w^ound), if 

 possible, should be dispensed wath ; as they are apt to blemish, and 

 are not very successful in horse practice : a fact that is probably 

 owing to the difficulty experienced in keeping our patients at rest. 

 Silver, or annealed iron wire of different sizes, made for the purpose, 

 forms a good general suture for wounds, especially those which are 





Fig. 32. — Reef knot. 



likely to gape. They keep the part cleaner and they can be 

 more easily tightened or loosened than silk thread or horse-hair, 

 either of which may be made germ-free by soaking it in a solu- 

 tion of carbolic acid in water, 1 to 20, for a quarter of an hour. 

 As an additional precaution, the silk thread might be previously 

 kept in boiling water for a few minutes. Prepared catgut may be 

 used for this purpose. Ordinary catgut is difficult to make free from 

 germs, and is apt to dissolve in the tissues before its duties are 

 fulfilled. The causing of tension, which, if continued, is certain to 

 give rise to, or to increase already existing inflammation, and the 

 formation of centres of putrefaction are the chief objections to the 

 employment of sutures. We should avoid bringing the edges of 

 the wound together, if by doing so, the divided surfaces, at a 

 lower depth, will be liable to " bag out," and thus to fonn a pouch 

 for the accumulation of discharges. 



The two kinds of stitching usually employed are the interrupted 

 and the twisted suture. Each stitch of the former is complete in 



